Effects of plant growth retardant daminozide (Alar) on neuromuscular co-ordination behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT

Daminozide (alar), a plant growth retardant, is used in different fruit orchard to make fruits attractive and reduce pre-harvest losses. Previously data demonstrated that acute daminozide exposure affected reproductive fitness and produced neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster. The goal of this study was to determine whether continuous exposure to daminozide affects neuromuscular co-ordination in D. melanogaster as manifested in various behavioral responses. Fruit flies were exposed to 200 or 400 mg/L concentration of daminozide for two successive generations. Treated D. melanogaster were examined for the behaviors indicative of neuromuscular coordination and cognitive abilities, that include climbing, social interaction, adult grooming, migration, flight, male aggression, and adult courtship. Aberrant behavioral responses were noted among treated D. melanogaster of both sexes as evidenced by the following parameters: reduction in flight duration, abnormal social interaction, altered copulatory acts, and over-aggressiveness. Data suggest that daminozide produces impairment in neuromuscular coordination and cognitive ability in Drosophila, which was reflected as altered behavioral patterns. As Drosophila is considered as a reliable in vivo model utilized in toxicity testing, our findings may help us to anticipate and monitor potential daminozide-induced toxicity in animals and humans.

KEYWORDS:

• Daminozide
• alar toxicity
• Drosophila melanogaster
• neurotoxicity
• neuromuscular coordination
• behavioral attributes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Head, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, for providing necessary supports to conduct the study and the lab members from Cytogenetics and Genomics Research Unit, University of Calcutta for technical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website

Additional information

Funding

My work was supported by the CSIR-Government of India for providing me fellowship as NET-JRF. The departmental centralize instrumental facilities were supported by DST-FIST, UGC-UPEII/2018 (University Grants Commission), UGC-PURSE programs.